Volcanoes

 Volcanoes

Volcanoes are made when melted rock inside the Earth grows. The hot rock fills holes under the ground. When the rocks on the surface can no longer hold the hot rock below, the volcano blows. Fire shoots up and smoke comes out. Hot rock flows down the mountain. It covers everything in its path. It is dangerous and beautiful.

A live volcano is an amazing thing to see. Few people in the United States have seen one. Yet there are 50 live volcanoes in this country.

Most of these volcanoes are in Alaska. There are 40 volcanoes on islands in Alaska. These are far from people. One or two of them erupt each year.

Most volcanoes are near the Pacific Ocean. Some are under the sea. Hawaii has many live volcanoes. Hot rock quietly flows from them.

In 1980, a volcano erupted in Washington. That volcano was Mount St. Helens. Gas, smoke, and very hot rocks filled the air. It was so hot that snow and ice melted. Ash filled the sky. When it was over, the mountain was smaller.